Multi-blank reinforced fiberboard container



March 4, 1969 M. .1. MGcoLl. 3,430,839

MULTI-BLANK REINFORCED FIBERBOARD CONTAINER Filed oor. 1s, 1965 sheet f of 2 44 462 25 25 la lo es 42A /48 66 W1 'd 65 ..45 ll so 40 //4| i /a j, 84 FIG.'

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v 97 im FIG. 3 a4 es y e4 IN VEN TOR ,4/ i5 MICHAEL .1 mcou.

BY FIG. 5 u

ATTORNEY March 4, 1969 M. J. MccoLL 3,430,839

z.zumz--LAN1 REINFORCED FIBERBOARD CONTAINER Filed oct. 1s, 1965 sheet 13 of 2 /ll K FIGS /71 INVENTOR MICHAEL J. COLL ATTORNEY United States Patent O 9 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A reinforced carrier formed from two end walls and a center portion, the latter integrally including side walls and a bottom wall. The side and end walls are provided along their upper margins with reinforcing rims formed from foldably connected panels. When the end walls are litted into closure-forming relation with the center portion the side faces of the rims on the end walls facewise abut against the end edges of the rims on the side walls. Projecting outwardly from the rims on the side walls are securement tabs and similarly projecting from the end margins of the side walls are side aps. The securement tabs are scored at the corners of the carrier so that when the tabs are folded across the corners at their scores, inwardly protruding beads will be formed which will engage the rims on the end walls and urge them into abutment with the rims on the side walls. The side aps are also scored so that when they are folded therealong the beads formed will project into and rigidify the beads on the tabs. The center portion and end walls are formed from blanks illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively, of the drawings.

This invention relates in general to article carriers and, more particularly, to shipping cartons.

It is often desirable to ship bottle goods, such as soft drinks, beer, and the like in shipping cartons constructed from solid iiberboard or some other suitable semi-rigid sheet material for such containers do not rupture easily or lose their strength when subjected to moisture as do common corrugated cartons. Moreover, such containers absorb shocks which conventional containers would generally transmit to the contents with consequent breakage. Generally, the end walls of such containers are provided with elongated apertures into which one can tit his fingers and easily grasp the carton. Nevertheless, conventional berboard containers do not possess sufiicient rigidity to avoid bending or distending when pulled from the bed of a truck or when lifted from the aperture of one end wall as is often the case in the delivery of soft drink bottles and beer bottles in case lots. Efforts have been made to lend additional rigidity to the cartons by tting them with a wire band in close proximity to their upper margins, but such wire bands add considerably to the cost of the finished carton for they are diicult and awkward to install and expensive in their own right when compared to the cost of liberboard material otherwise utilized in the carton construction. Moreover, such bands often have sharp edges which, when exposed, constitute a hazard and invitation to a personal injury suit. Of course, attempts have been made to enclose the band within overlapping layers of fiberboard, but the bands have nevertheless remained partially exposed at the corners or where the tiberboard, through wear or abuse, has been torn or ruptured.

Distended or otherwise distorted cartons do not lend themselves to automatic packing machinery and when placed on a filler line often cause a time consuming and an expensive stoppage.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invenice tion to provide a shipping carton which is integrally provided with reinforcing means and does not require additional reinforcing elements to lend rigidity thereto.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shipping carton of the type stated which is easily assembled from the several blanks which comprise its walls.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a shipping carton of the type stated which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a center portion blank constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 s a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and showing a score forming part of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan View of an end wall blank constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an end wall forming part of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View showing the carrier prior to the final steps of assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembled carrier constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragementary sectional view taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the corner construction of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates an article carrier having spaced parallel end walls 1, 2, interconnected by a center portion 3, as best seen in FIG. 7. The end walls 1, 2, are identical in every respect and are formed from end wall blanks 4 illustrated in FIG. 3, while the center portion 3 is formed from a center portion blank 5 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The fblanks 4, 5, are preferably die cut from iiberboard sheet material consisting of a multiplicity of paperlike laminations adhesively secured together under pressure to form a single laminated sheet of material having a thickness of appr-oximately .08 to .O9 inch. Such tiberboard is ideally suited for forming the components of the carrier A in that it possesses sufficient rigidity when correctly folded to maintain the carrier A in a rectangular configuration despite the application of severe distending forces to the end walls 1, 2, or center portion 3, but yet is flexible enough t-o be bent in the formation of corner margins and the like. It should be noted, however, that carrier A may be fabricated from any bendable material and that the recitation of berboard should not in any way be construed as a limitation.

Referring now to FIGS. l and 6v, the center portion blank 5 is of substantially rectangular configuration having inner and outer surfaces 6, 7, and is traversed intermediate its ends by spaced parallel scores 8, 9, which are perpendicularly intersected by longitudinally extending end scores 10, 11, the scores 8, 9, 10, 11, defining a rectangular bottom panel 12 `of width r and end flaps 13, 14.

The side margins of the end flaps 13, 14, are spaced slightly inwardly from the scores 8, 9, and terminate in arcuate margins 15 located at the intersections of the scores 3, 9, 10, 11, such intersections, in effect, forming the corners of the panel 12.

The scores 8, 9, 10, 11, are unique in that they are a combination of three parallel score lines as best seen in FIG. 2. More particularly, to form the scores 8, 9, 10, 11, the sheet 5 is inwardly scored or grooved from its inner surface 6 in the provision of spaced parallel grooves 16, 17. From its outer surface 7, intermediate the grooves 16, 17, the blank 5 is also inwardly scored or grooved in the provision of a substantially wider groove 18. Thus, the sheet carrying the spaced `grooves 116, 17, 18, can be folded inwardly along the grooves 16, 17, with the groove 16 presented outwardly as best seen in FIG. 8. When the sheet is folded at approximately 90 along the grooves 16, 17, the inwardly grooved portion of the single groove 18 will form an attractive outwardly presented beveled edgeon the surface 7, its side margins being defined by the grooves 16, 17, while the inwardly grooved portion of the groove 18 will form an inwardly projecting bead 19 which projects beyond the inner surface 6. Because of the substantial nature of the bending forces involved, the adhesive bonds between the laminations within the bead 19 are broken when the material is bent and the laminations are, therefore, spaced apart somewhat as best seen in FIG. 8. For convenience of reference, such score lines will hereinafter be referred to as bead scores.

Outwardly from the bead score 8 in spaced parallel relation thereto and at a distance m therefrom the blank 5 is traversed by `a bead score 22 which is perpendicularly intersected at its ends by bead scores 23, 24, whereby to define a side panel 25 and side fiaps 26, 27. The bead scores 23, 24, are colinear with the bead scores 10, 11, respectively, and terminate at the arcuate margins where the side margins of the side aps 26, 27, are slightly cut away so as not to be in endwise abutment with the side margins of the end flaps 13, 14.

Similarly, the sheet 5 is traversed by a bead score 30 at a distance m from the bead score 9, the bead score 30 being in parallel relation thereto and perpendicularly intersected by bead scores 31, 32, which are colinear with the bead scores 10, 11, respectively. The bead scores 9, 31, 30, 32, in effect, define a side panel 33 having side flaps 34, 35, projecting outwardly from the side margins thereof. The inwardly presented side margins of the side flaps 34, 35, are slightly cut away so as not to abut against the side margins of the end flaps 13, 14, and terminate at the `arcuate margins 15.

Hingedly secured to the side panel 25 along the bead score 22 is a reinforcing section 40 including an inner panel 41, which is hingedly fastened to an intermediate panel 42 along a bead score 43, the intermediate panel 42 having securement tabs 44, 45, projecting outwardly from the end margins thereof along bead scores 46, 47. At the intersection of the bead scores 46, 43, and 47, 43, the end tabs are inwardly cut along the bead scores '46, 47, in the provision of notches 48, 49. Hingedly secured to the intermediate panel 42 along a lbead score 50 is an outer panel 51. Finally, it should be noted that the end margins of the panels 41, 51, are colinear and spaced slightly inwardly from the bead scores 23, 24, and 46, 47, the bead scores 46, 47, of course, being colinear with the bead scores 23, 24.

Similarly secured to the side panel 33 along the bead score 30 is a reinforcing section 60 which is identical in all respects to the reinforcing section 40 excepting, of course, its location on the blank 5. More particularly, the reinforcing section 60 includes an inner panel 61 which is hingedly fastened to an intermediate panel 62 along a bead score 63, the intermediate panel 62 being hingedly fastened to an outer panel 64 along a bead score 65. Projecting outwardly from the end margins of the intermediate panel 62 along bead scores 66, 67, are end tabs 68, 69, which are provided with inwardly cut notches 7G, 71, respectively.

The scores 22, 43, and 30, 63, are separated by a distance n which, in effect, defines the width of the panels 41, 61. Similarly, the score lines 43, 56, and 63, 65, are separated by a distance 0 which, in effect, defines the width of the intermediate panels 42, 62, the dimension o being slightly less than the dimension n. Finally, the outer panels 51, 64, have a width p which is somewhat less than the dimension o.

To transform the blank 5 into the center portion 3, the outer panels 51, 64, of the reinforcing sections 40, 60, are folded inwardly along the bead scores 50, 65, respectively, so that their inner surfaces 6 are brought into facewise abutment with the inner surfaces 6 of the intermediate panels 42, 62, respectively. Thereafter, the

4combined intermediate panels 42, 62, and outer panels 51, 64, are folded along the score lines 43, 63, until the outer surfaces 7 of the outer panels 51, 64, are brought into facewise abutment with the inner surfaces 6 of the inner panels 41, 61, respectively. Finally, the reinforcing sections 40, 60, are folded along the score lines 22, 30, until the outer surfaces 7 of the intermediate panels 42, 62, are brought into facewise abutment `with the inner surfaces 6 of the side panels 25, 30, to which they are adhesively or otherwise suitably secured in the formation of upper reinforcing rims 74, 75. As will be seen by reference to FIG. 6, the securement tabs 44, 45, 68, 69, project outwardly from the reinforcing rims 74, 75, in inwardly spaced relation to the side flaps 26, 27, 34, 35, respectively, where the bead scores 46, 47, 70, 71, of the former are presented in overlying relation to the bead scores 23, 24, 31, 32, respectively, of the latter. The arcuate margins 15 are located at the bottom corners of the center portion 3 between the outwardly projecting side aps 26, 27, 28, 29, and the end flaps 13, 14, so as to prevent any binding or interference which might otherwise result when the blank 5 is folded along the scores 8, 9. Additionally, the grooves 16 of the various bead scores are presented outwardly on the margins which such bead scores form and provide an attractive beveled edge. Finally, it should be noted that sufficient room is provided between the inner panel 41 and intermediate panel 42 for the bead 19 of the bead score 43 to project inwardly, because the dimension p of panel 51 is somewhat less than the dimension o of panel 42 and, similarly, because the dimension o of panel 42 is somewhat less than the dimension n of panel 41, sufficient room is provided for the bead 19 of bead score 22 to project inwardly between the panels 41, 25, all as best seen in FIG. 6. The same, of course, is true of the reinforcing member which transforms into the reinforcing rim 75, in the manner hereinbefore described.

Referring now to FIG. 3, each of the end blanks 4 has inner and outer surfaces 8f), 81, respectively, and includes a substantially rectilinear end panel 82, which is defined on its sides by parallel side margins 83, 84, on its bottom by a bottom margin 85, and on its top by a bead score 86. The lower corners of the panel 82 are relieved in the provision of arcuate cutouts 87, 88. lntermediate its side margins 83, 84, the panel 82 is provided with an elongated aperture S9 which is sized to comfortably receive a hand. t should be noted that the width of the end panel 82, that is to say, the distance between the side margins 83, 84, which is designated dimension t, is substantially equal to the Width r of the bottom panel 12 of blank 5.

Hingedly secured to the end panel 82 along the bead score 86 is a reinforcing section 90 including a rectilinear inner panel 91 having end margins 92, 93, which are spaced slightly inwardly from the side margins 83` 84, of the end panel 82. The opposite longitudinally extending margin of the inner panel 91 is partially defined by a bead score 94 which is parallel to and outwardly spaced from the bead score 86 at a distance u, the distance u being equal to the width n of inner panels 41, 61, of the center blank 5, all for purposes presently more fully appearing.

The sides of the end blank 4 are cut out in the provision of elongated notches 96, 97, which respectively terminate in upper arcuate margins 98, 99, and lower arcuate margins 100, 101, the former of which are located in the inner panel 91 slightly above the bead score 86. The lower arcuate margins 100, 101, are located in the panel 82 downwardly from the bead score 86 a distance v which is substantially equal to the width ,u of inner panel 91. At this juncture it should also be noted that the upper margin of the elongated aperture 89 is parallel to and also located downwardly from the bead score 86 at a distance v.

Hingedly secured to the inner panel 91 along the bead score 94 is a rst intermediate panel 105 which is separated from a second intermediate panel 106 by a slit score 107, the slit score 107 being parallel to the bead score 94. To provide the slit score 107, the blank 4 is cut from its outer surface 81 through all but a few of the paper-like laminations forming the berboard material. This enables one to fold the blank 4 inwardly along the slit score 107 in a hinge-like manner on the few laminations remaining uncut 0n the inner surface 80 thereof so that the inner surfaces 80 of the panels can be brought into complete facewise abutment. Slit score 107 and bead score 94 Vare separated by a distance w which is, in effect. the width of the intermediate panel 105.

Outwardly from the slit score 107 and in parallel relation thereto, the blank 4 is perforated in the formation of a perforated score 108 which denes the inner longitudinal margin of an outer panel 109 having an outer longitudinal margin 110 which is parallel to the score 108 and forms the top margin of the blank 4. The perforated score 108 is located midway between the slit score 107 and top margin 110 and, consequently, the panels 108, 109, are of equal width x which is slightly less than the width w of the panel 105, all for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Finally, it should be noted that the panels 105, 106, 109, possess common colinear end margins 111, 112, which are perpendicular to the scores 94, 107, 108, and are spaced inwardly from the end margins 92, 93, respectively, of inner panel 91 at a distance y, the distance y being somewhat greater than the length of the securement tabs 44, 45, 66, 65, beyond their respective bead scores 46, 47, 70, 71.

To transform end blank 4 into either of end Walls 1, 2, the outer panel 109 is folded outwardly along the perforated score 108, whereupon the laminations on the inner surface 80 will tear and allow the blank 4 to fold along the laminations which are intact on the outer surface 81. The outer panel 109 is then brought into facewise abutment with the second intermediate panel 106, in which position the outer margin 110 of the former will lie adjacent the slit score 101 of the latter. Next, the reinforcing member 90 is folded inwardly along the slit score 107 and the inner surfaces 80 of the first and second panels are brought into facewise abutment, in which position the perforated score 109 will lie in slightly outwardly spaced relation to the bead score 94, because the width x of the panels 106, 108, is slightly less than the width w of the panel 105. Thus, when the reinforcing member 90 is folded inwardly along bead score 94, which is the next step of assembly, sufficient room is provided for the bead of the score 94 to project inwardly between the panels 91, 105. Moreover, when the inner surface 81 of the outer panel 109 is brought into facewise abutment with the inner surface 80 of the inner panel 91, the Outer margin 110 and slit score 107 will fall into juxtaposition in slightly outwardly spaced relation to the bead score 86. Finally, the blank 4 is folded inwardly along the bead score 86 and the outer surface 81 of the rst intermediate panel 105 is brought into facewise abutment with the inner surface of the end panel 82 to which it is adhesively or otherwise suitably secured, whereby to form four-ply upper rim 115. Because the slit score 107 and end margin 110 do not extend completely to the bead score 86, suficient room is provided for the bead 19 of the bead score 86 to project inwardly between the panels 105, 91, as best seen in FIG. 5. The reinforcing rim of the completed end wall 1 or 2 extends downwardly to the upper margin of the elongated aperture 89, the outer surface 81 of the bead score 94 being located in juxtaposition therewith, thereby providing a smoothly curved arcuate bottom margin which can be conveniently grasped by inserting ones hand through the aperture 89. The inner panel 91, in effect, becomes the outer wall of the reinforcing rim 115 and the end margins 92, 93, thereof project somewhat beyond the notches 96, 97, respectively, in the formation of recesses 116, 117, respectively, for purposes presently more fully appearing.

To provide a completed carrier A, the end wall 1 is fitted into one open end of the center portion 3 against the ends of the reinforcing rims 74, 75, which are the ends of panels 41, 51, and 61, 64, so that the side margins 83, 84, of the end panel 82 are in abutment with the inner surface 6 of the side panels 25, 33, and the bottom margin 85 is in abutment with the inner surface 7 of the bottom panel 12. The arcuate cutouts 88, 87, of the bottom margin 85 receive the inwardly projecting beads 19 of the bead scores 8, 9, respectively, and permit the side margins 83, 84, and bottom 85 to enter into tight abutment as previously described. Referring now to FIG. 9, when the end wall 1 is so fitted, the notch 49 of securement tab 45 will engage the lower arcuate margin 101 of the notch 97.

Thereafter, the securement tab 45 is bent over onto the outer surface 81 of the end panel 82, whereupon the bead 19 of the bead score 47 will project inwardly into the recess 117 of rim 115, so as to prevent upward withdrawal of the end wall 1, as best seen in FIG. 8. Moreover, the bead 19 of the score 47 will buttress the end of the inner panel 91, which for convenience of reference may be termed an abutting element, firmly against the end of the panel 41, which may be designated an abutting surface. The bead 19 of the bead score 67 is, of course, tted into the recess 116 in a similar manner when the tab 69 is folded over onto the outer surface 81 of the end panel 82. Next, the end flap 14 is folded over into facewise abutment with the outer surface 81 of the end panel 82 and thereafter the side flaps 27, 35, are folded over along their score lines 24, 32, respectively, into overlying relation with the outer surface 81 of the end panel 82, the securement tabs 45, 69, and the end flap 14 being interposed therebetween. Finally, staples 118 are driven through the side flaps 27, 35, the corner rigidifying securement tabs 45, 69, and end flap 14 and the end wall 1 thereby securely locking the end wall 1 in the center portion 3. It should be noted at this juncture that as the side flaps 27, 35, are folded along their respective score lines 24, 32, the beads 19 thereof will project inwardly against the beads 19 of the score lines 47, 71, driving the same even further into the recesses 117, 116, respectively. The end wall 2 is fitted into the opposite end of the center portion 3 in a similar manner.

As will be seen by reference to FIG. 7, the completely assembled article carrier A has a reinforced rim of multi-ply berboard extending around the upper periphery thereof, the rim comprisng the opposed reinforcing rims 74, 75, of the center portion 3 and the opposed reinforcing rims 115 of the end walls 1, 2. The rims 74, 75, 115, are rigidly joined at their ends by the interlocking engagement of the notches 48, 49, 70, 71, with the lower arcuate margins of the elongated notches 97, 96, and by inwardly projecting beads 19, of the bead scores 46, 47, 66, 67, which project into the recesses 116, 117, of the reinforcing rims 115. The unique interlocking junctures substantially retard the tendency of the carrier to ex at its corners so often encountered in conventional packing cartons. Moreover, a delivery man can grasp the carrier A by inserting his hand through the aperture 89 and either slide it across the bed of a truck or other at surface or lift it. A-gain the multi-ply reinforcing rims 115 prevent the end walls 1, 2, as well as the center portion 3, from bending and weakening the berboard from which the carrier A is constructed.

It should be noted that the end -wall blank 4 and center portion blank 5 can each be produced with the various score lines, apertures, cutouts, and the like in a one-step stamping operation. Moreover, the blanks 4, 5, lend themselves to automated production methods and can, therefore, be quickly and economically transformed into end walls 1, 2, and a center portion 3, respectively. Additionally, the reinforcing rims 74, 75, 115, are constructed wholly om iiberboard and provide the necessary rigidity to the carrier A without the use of steel or other expensive reinforcing bands.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A reinforced container comprising a center portion having spaced side walls interconnected at their lower margins by a bottom wall, end flaps foldably connected tofand projecting outwardly from the end margins of the bottom wall, side iiaps foldably connected to and projecting outwardly from the end margins of the side walls along side scores which form inwardly protruding side beads when the side flaps are folded therealong, side reinforcing rims formed from a plurality of foldably connected panels located in facewise abutment along the upper margins of the side walls, end walls fitted into the ends of the center portion inclosure-forming relation therewith and being cut away adjacent the side rims in the provision of elongated notches, the side margins of the end walls being in abutment with the inner faces of the side walls, end reinforcing rims formed from a plurality of foldably connected panels located in facewise abutment along the upper margins of the end walls, and corner securement ta-bs projecting outwardly from the ends of the side reinforcing rims where they are provided with corner scores located in juxtaposition to the side scores, the corner scores forming inwardly protruding corner beads when the tabs are folded therealong, the securement tabs being folded over along the corner scores and securely fastened to the end walls -with the corner beads extending into the notches so as to prevent upward withdrawal of the end wall and to further buttress the end and side rims into rigid corner-forming abutments, the side aps being folded along side scores against the outwardly presented faces of the corner securement tabs so that the side beads engage the corner beads whereby to rigidify the corner beads, whereby the end, side and bottom wall panels are in fixed determined relation and resist distortion arising from handling and shipment of the carrier.

2. A reinforced container according to claim 1 in which the ends of the side rims are spaced slightly inwardly from the side scores, whereby to provide a clearance space between the ends of the side rims and the side aps for reception of the end rims and inward protrusions of the corner and side beads.

3. A reinforced container according to claim 2 in which the end rims project slightly beyond the elongated notches and the ends of the side rims are spaced inwardly from the corner scores, whereby to provide a clearance space for reception of the ends of the end rims so as to form an interlocking engagement.

4. A reinforced container according to claim 2 in lwhich the side reinforcing rims include side outer face panels and a multiplicity of intermediate panels interposed between the outer face panels and side walls, the securement tabs intgrally formed with and projecting outwardly from one of said intermediate panels, the ends of the side outer face panels forming a-butment surfaces inwardly beyond the tabs, the corner scores being located slightly beyond the abutment surface.

5. A reinforced container according to claim 4 in which the end reinforcing rims include end outer face panels, which project outwardly beyond the elongated notches7 the remaining panels of the end rims being substantially shorter than the end outer panel and interposed between it and the end wall, whereby the outer panel fits against the abutment surfaces and corner beads project inwardly into the elongated notches and buttress the end outer panels tightly against the abutment surfaces, whereby the end and side walls are held in fixed determined relation and resist distortion arising from handling and shipment of the carrier.

6. An open top reinforced carrier comprising a wraparound center portion and end walls adapted for endwise closure-forming insertion in the center portion, the center portion being formed from a foldable center blank having a bottom wall panel interposed between side wall panels and reinforcing sections foldably attached to the side wall panels in outwardly spaced relation to the bottom panel, the reinforcing sections including a plurality of foldably connected narrow panels, one of which is provided at its ends with outwardly projecting securement tabs, whereby the side wall panels can be folded inwardly with respect to the bottom wall panel so as to be presented in upstanding spaced relation and the panels of the reinforcing sections can be folded over in overlying relation to one another so as `to form multiple side reinforcing rims having the securement tabs projecting beyond the ends thereof, all in the formation of a completed center portion, the end walls each being formed from a foldable end blank including an end wall panel having a reinforcing section foldably attached thereto, the reinforcing section including a plurality of foldably connected narrow panels, whereby the panels of the reinforcing rim can be folded over in overlying relation to one another so as to form an end wall, the end walls being fitted in the center portion so that the side margins thereof abut against the inner faces of the side wall panels, the securement tabs being firmly fastened to the end walls, whereby to rmly hold the end walls to the center portion in the formation of a completed carrier.

7. A reinforced carrier according to claim 5 in which the side reinforcing sections include an outer face panel and at least one intermediate panel, one of the intermediate panels integrally including the securement tabs, the ends of the outer panels forming abutment surfaces, the securement tabs being provided with corner scores slightly beyond the abutment surfaces.

l8. An open top reinforced container comprising end walls and a wrap-around member including an opposed pair of side walls and a bottom panel, the walls each having a reinforcing rim foldably connected to the top edge and secured in atwise relation to the interior top margin thereof, the reinforcing rims comprising a multiplicity of foldably connected flange panels, the side walls having end edges defined by lines of scoring with inwardly protruding score line beads, the end walls having side edges disposed interiorly of the beads in abutting relation to the interior surfaces of the opposed side walls, connecting flanges foldably connected to the end edges of the opposed side walls and bottom wall at the lines of scoring and secured in flatwise relation to the exterior surface of the end wall panels, connecting tabs foldably connected to one ply of the side wall reinforcing rims at the end edges thereof, the latter fold connections having inwardly protruding beads, the end edges of the end wall reinforcing rim being recessed from the side edges of the end walls and abutting the interior surface of said reinforcing rim one ply, a top marginal portion of the side edges of the end walls being recessed inwardly of the reinforcing rim end edges of the end walls, the connecting tab inwardly protruding beads being disposed in the top marginal portion recess of the end wall side edges, another one of the flange panels of the side wall reinforcing rims having free end edges in abutting relation to the interior surface of the end Wall reinforcing rims whereby the respective wall panels are in xed, determined relation resistant to distortion arising from handling and shipment of the container.

`9. A reinforced container comprising side walls, a bottom wall interconnecting the side Walls, side reinforcing rims formed from a plurality of foldably connected panels located in facewise abutment along the upper margins of the side walls, end walls interconnecting the side and bottom walls in closure-forming relation therewith, each end Wall including an end panel and an end rim foldably connected to the end panel, the end panels being cut away near their upper margins in the formation of recess-forming elongated notches and the end rims including a plurality of foldably connected panels located in facewise abutment along the upper margins of the end panels, one of the foldably connected panels of each end rim projecting outwardly beyond the notches and abutting against the ends of the side rims, and corner securement tabs projecting outwardly from the ends of the side rims and having corner scores which form inwardly protruding beads when the tabs are folded therealong, the securernent tabs being folded against and secured to the end walls and the corner beads projecting into the elongated notches against the outwardly projecting panels of the end rim so as to buttress the end and side rims into rigid cornerforming abutments.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,335,934 8/1967 Danis. 2,284,942 6/1942 Boeye 229-23 2,710,134 6/1955 Schroeder et al. 229--37 3,162,350 12/1964 Miller 229-34 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

